steinway



4 Sheets s 1.

(No Model) PIANO FRAME.

Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

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WITNESSES: j fiw in I 7/ (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. F. STEINWAY.

PIANO FRAME.

No. 314,742. Patented Mar. 81, 1885.

WITNESSES 1 INVENTOR 4 ygg g 6.74

ATTORNEYS 4 Sheefs Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

G. F. T. STEINWAY.

'PIANO FRAME.

Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

WITNESSES N. PETERS. momLnho nm Wnshmglnn. o, r:

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOR (No Model.)

0. P. T. STEINWAY.

. PIANO FRAME. No. 314,742.

Patented M21131, 1885.

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UNiTED STATES PATENT Orricn.

O. F. THEODOR STEINWVAY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

PIANO-FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,742, dated March 31, 1885.

Application filed April 11, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, O. F. Tnnonon STEIN- WAY, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Fortes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to certain improvements in grand pianos, some of which are also adapted to upright pianos.

The improvements relate more especially to a case made of abent inner and outer rim and of stiffening braces, said rims being supported by a rear console interposed between the bottom edge of the rims and the hind leg, and by front consoles interposed between the rims and the key-frame bed. The key-frame bed is reenforced by a transverse brace-block with T- shaped ends, to which the front legs and the lyre of the piano are secured. The opposite sides of the bent rims are connected by a transverse obtuse angled closing -rim that forms, with the inner rim, a continuous support for the sounding-board.

The invention consists, further, of an improved construction of the metallic stringframe, the treble and middle webs-of which are on a level with the treble and middle strings, whilethe bass-web is arched or cupola-shaped, so as to be on a level with the overstrung bass strings, whereby a larger space is obtained between the frame and the sounding-board for the better development of the sound-waves of the bass-strings, said arched bass-web having a depressed portion for hitching on the longest ot' the series of middle strings.

The invention consists, finally, of certain details of construction, which will be fully described hereinafter, and finally be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan of the supporting-frame of a grand piano-forte, showing the bent rims, stiffening-braces, and consoles. Fig. 2 shows an elevation of the supporting-brace frame and bent rim of an upright piano-forte with a transverse closing-rim. Fig. 3 is a plan of the sounding-board and arched metal stringframe for grand pianos. Fig. at is a side elevat-ion of a grand piano, showing the supporting consoles. Fig. 5'is a vertical longitudinal section on line x m, Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a vertical transverse section on line 3 y, Fig. 1; and Fig.

7 isa detail vertical transverse section on line a 2, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents the outer inclosing-rim and A the inner supporting-rim, which are constructed of bent layers of veneer glued together, as shown in the patent heretofore granted to me under date of May 21,1878, No. 204,108. The rims A A, in conjunction with the braces to a a c, the rear console, C, the cross-block A the front consoles, O, and the keyi'raine bed 0", (shown in Fig. 5,) constitute the case and supportingframe of a grand piano. The combined rims A and A and the braces a a are connected and jointly supported at the rear end of the case by the console C, Fig. 1. In the construction heretofore patented the said rims and braces were connected by a bottom which was countersunk from below into the inner supporting-rim, A, and tightly wedged into a recess at the lower edge of said rim A. By this arrangement the continuous long fibers of the rim were directly connected with the end wood of the bottom, the fibers of which crossed those of the rim at right angles. thus greatly diminishing the power of said rim to readily transmit the vibrations imparted to it by the sounding-board.

In order to allow the inner rim, A,to-retain its natural tendency to transmit vibrations throughout its entire length, the rear and front consoles, O O, are arranged below the bottom edges of the rims A A. By thus loeating the consoles below the rims the height of the latter can be reduced throughout their entire length by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the consoles 00, whereby the expense for material and labor is considerably reduced. It furthermore renders the general appearance of the case lighter and more elegant. The front consoles, O, are interposed between the bottom edge of the rims A A and the key-frame bed 0', so as to retain the proper distance required between the key-frame bed C' 'and the level of the strings for the actions. The braces to a a a converge from the rims toward a narrow point or shoe at the front part of the case,and are supported by the key-frame bed 0, their lower edge being on a level with the same. Two of said braccsn and aflincet the rear console, G, nearly at right angles, and are recessed at the under side, where they pass over the console and connect withthe rim A.

In the prior patent referred to, the front legs and lyre were directly adjusted to the keyirame bed 0 which latter was entirely unsupported at its intermediate portion between the treble and bass sides of the rims A A. Thus the pressure of the performeus foot upon the pedals of the lyre had a tendency to bear down the unsupported. middle portion of the key-frame bed, so as to change and injure the touch of the actions. To prevent thisthe key-frame bed 0* is re-enforced by a T-shaped transverse brace-block, 0, having T-shaped ends, C", below the treble and bass sides of the rims A A. The T-shaped ends C form an architrave for the front legs,while the transverse block 0 forms a girder for the hey-frame bed C The block O materially strengthens and braces said bed,and serves for attaching the front legs and lyre thereto.

Along the bass side of the inner rim,A,extends an inner bracerib, b, which serves for the purpose of stiiiening said rim, so that, in conjunction with the outer rim, A, it is not liable to vibrate transversely when receiving the vibrations imparted by that side of the sounding-board. The brace-rib b at the bass side of the rims A A, the braces a a a a at the middle portionsand the erossblock A at the treble portion are on the same level, and form together the support for a transverse obtuse-angled closing-rim, A Fig. 1. The 010s ing-rim A connects the opposite sides of the inner rim, A,its ends meeting the inner rim A, at such an angle that the long fibers ofthe rim A and of the closing-rim form one continuous sup port, to which the sounding-board is glued. The vibrations set up in any one part of the inner rim, A, are instantaneously propagated to each and every section of the closing-rim, A whereby the sonority and singing quality of tone are greatly increased, especially in' the treble portion. The ribs of the soundingboard Bare fitted into recesses of the inner rim, A, and the closing-rim A and at the front end into top recesses of a raised strip, A", which forms the continuation of the treble portion of the closingrim A as shown in Fig. 1. As the swelling ofthe sounding-board, caused by dampness, would have a tendency to displace the closing-rim A at the treble by forcing it outwardly, whereby the sounding-board would lose that firmness and com pression ofits fibers necessary for a good treble, the closing-rim is connected at thetreble portion with the brace a by a tension-bar, d, of wood or metal, which runs at right angles to the closing -rim A and enables it to withstand the lateral strain exerted thereon by the sounding-board. The obtuse-angled closingrim A is also applicable to upright pianos, as shown in Fig. 2.

Practical tests have demonstrated that the transverse obtuse-angled closing-rim A can also be used as a support for the soundingboard, either with the bent rims A A or in connection with the old style rims heretofore in use. In both cases itgrcatly improves the treble of the piano by transmitting the vibrations from the treble portion to the middle portion of the sounding-board, and vice versa. Thus the transverse rim also is of great value in pianos not constructed with bent rims.

Upon the sounding-board Brests the metallie string-frame F. (trihown in Fig. 3.) The edge of the string-frame F is fastened to the innor rim, A, by boltsf. The stringframeFhas a raised, arched, or cupola-shapcd bass-web, F, which is on alevel with the overstrung bassstrings. This bass web is intended to take the place of the raised rib employed in the metallic string-frame described in the patent granted to me heretofore under (late of May 28, 1872, No. 127,383, and reissued in No. 9,4i31, October 26, 1880. Thehcavy raised rib shown therein was necessary to raise the bass portion ofsaid frametothelevel required by the overstrung bass-strings. As this rib had to resist the immense strain or pull of the entire bass-strings, it was formed in the shape of a massive girder, which had the disadvair tage of making the entire bass portion of the string-frame so rigid as to deaden the vibrating power of the frame, and furthermore that the heavy girder added materially to the weight of the frame.

By raising the entire bass-web F of the string-frame F to the level of the bass-strings and retaining the arched or cupola shape of the middle and treble portion of the stringframe on a level with the middle and treble strings the heavy girder in the bassweb is dis pensed with, and, furthermore, the air-space between the souinling-board and the stringframe materially enlarged,whereby the strong or development of sound-wavesin this portion of the instrument is promoted, and thereby the volume of tone in the bassincreased. The raised bass-web F is confined between girders, which are formed by the elongation of the converging bracesff at the ends of said raised web. The arched treble and middle webs of the string-frame and the arched bassweb, which is raised to a greater height than the middle and treble web, form a string-frame to which I have given the name of doublecupola frame.

As the nature of my scale, employing a bent sounding-board bridge, (shown in Fig. 3,) demands that several of the longest uncovered steel strings be hitched to the extreme end of the bass-web of the string-frame F and on a level with the strings in the middle portionof the frame, I arrange an opening, f, and a depressed portion, F, at the extreme end of the bass-web F, said depressed portion being on a level with the middle portion of the stringframe. To the depressed portion F thelongest uncovered steel strings are hitched, as in dicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The principle of raising the bass-web of a metal string-frame above the middle and treble portion of said frame can also be applied with good effect to the ordinary old style fiat stringframe, as by avoiding the massive girder described the weight of the string-frame is greatly diminished, and the air space between the sounding-board and string-frame increased with the effect described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of a case formed of an inner and outer rim, A A, a rear console, 0, arranged below the bottom edge of said rims, and front consoles, O, interposed between said rims and the key-frame bed 0, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a case formed of a bent outer and inner rim, A A, a rear console, 0, located below the bottom edge of said rims, a key-frame bed,C ,and stiffening-braces a a a? a, supported by said key-frame bed and rear console, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a case formed of bent outer and inner rims, A A, front consoles, 0, located below the bottom edge of the rims, and a key-frame bed, 0", below said front consoles, substantially as set forth.

4.. The combination of a case formed ofcontinuously-bent outer and inner rims, A A, and rear and front consoles, G 0, located below the bottom edge of the rims, the front consoles beinginterposed between the rims and keyframe bed, so as to diminish the height of the case without decreasing the height of the space required for the action, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination ofacase formed of a con: tinuously-bent outer and inner rim, A A,front consoles, O, key-frame bed G and transverse re-enforcing block 0 having T-shaped end pieces, 0*, the re-enforcing block and end pieces serving for attaching the lyre and front feet, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the supportingrim of the sounding-board, of a transverse rim that extends from the treble to the bass side of the rim, and forms with the rim a continuous support for the sounding-board, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the bent inner rim, A, of atransverse obtuse-angled closingrim, A that extends from the treble to the bass side of the rim, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the supportingrim A, a transverse obtuse-angled closing-rim, A extending from the treble to the bass of the rim, and a sounding-board, B, resting upon the main and closing rims, substantially as set forth.

9. In piano-fortes, a transverse obtuse-angled rim, A, supporting the treble and bass end of the sounding-board, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of the continuouslybent inner rim, A, transverse closing-rim A stiffening-braces a a a a, and a tension-brace, d, that connects the treble portion of the 010s ing-riin A with the brace a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination of the bent inner rim, A, stiffening-braces a a a a a re-enforcing rib, 1), extending along the bass side of the inner rim, A, and a transverse closing-rim, A, extending from the treble to the bass side of the rim A, substantially as set forth.

12. A metallic string-frame for piano-fortes, having an arched or cupola-shaped' Web in the treble and middle portions, and a cupolashaped bass-web raised above the level of the treble and middle web to the level required for the bassstrings, substantially as set forth.

13. A metallic stringframe for piano-fortes, having an arched or cupola-shaped web in the treble and middle portions, and a cupolashaped bass-web raised above the level of the treble and middle port-ions, the double-arched bass-web being confined between the extensions of the converging ribs of the frame, substantially as set forth.

A metallic stringframe for piano-fortes, having the treble and middle webs on a level with the treble and middle strings, and a raised cupola-shaped bass-web on a level with the overstrung bass-strings, substantially as set forth.

15. A metallic string-frame for piano-forties, having an arched or cupolashaped web for the treble and middle portions, and an arched bass-web raised above the treble and middle webs, said bassweb having an opening and depressed portion on a level with the treble and middle webs of the string-frame for hitching on the longest uncovered steel strings, sub stantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

O. F. THEODOR STEINVVAY.

lYit-nesses:

PAUL GonrnL, SIDNEY MANN.

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